Mechanism for laying railroad-tracks



(No Model.)

A. MIOHELSON.

MECHANISM FOR LAYING RAILROAD TRACKS. No} 287,952.

Patented NOV. 6, 1888.

in gs.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ALBERT MIOHELSON, OF CHIC AGO, ILLINOIS.

MECHANISM FOR LAYING RAILROAD-TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 287,952, dated November 6,1883.

Application filed November 1, 1852. (No model.)

This invention relates to that class of im provements that are designedto be employedin connection with railroad construction-trains, wherebythe material may be readily conveyed to the front of the head car and the process of laying the track greatly facilitated, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth in detail.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective; Figs. 2, 3, and 4: detached details of construction; and Figs. 5 and 6 show a slotted bolt and wedge adapted to temporarily secure the fish-plate uniting the ends of therails.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a number of ordinary flat cars composing the construction-train, loaded with the material necessary for the laying of the track; B, the derrick-posts placed upon the head car, and provided with the ropes A, the outer ends of which engage with the bifurcated gripper attached to the conveyors O, placed at'each side of the road, as shown in Fig. l of the draw- By this arrangement the conveyors are conveniently and readily moved forward as the laying of the track progresses.

The conveyors G are composed of the two side rails, B 13", provided on the upper edge with the series of journal-bearing boxes a. These boxes are adapted to receive and support the ends of the series of cylindrical rollers D, placed between the side rails, B B These rollers [are provided at each end with the flanges b, which project above the upper edge of the side rails and down on the inside of the and having a convex surface on the inner sides,

they greatly lessen the bearing-surface and frictional. contact with the material being moved forward. The flanges on the series of rollers may be formed rigid therewith or arranged loosely thereon, so that these parts may be adapted to rotate each independently of and without reference to the other; and I shall make use of either form, as practical working may require and prove to be the more advantageous. The bearingbracket a has the journal-recess a cut out at an oblique angle, and is provided with the vertical hooli-like projection c which serves to prevent the rollers from jumping out of the open box, and at the same time to lessen the amount of friction on the journal ends of the rollers, as the bearing is well to the front of that side of the roller, instead of all the friction being on the under side of the roller, as is ordinarily the case. Two of these conveyors are made use ofone on each side of the constrriction-train-one carrying forward the ties and the other the iron rails.

Fig. 5 represents an ordinary bolt provided with the slot in the opposite end from the head; and Fig. 6 represents a wedgeshaped key adapted to engage with the slot in the bolt. This bolt and key are made use of temporarily to secure the fish-plate in place, so that the construction-train may proceed rapidly without having to wait until the threaded bolts are inserted and nuts screwed into place, these being supplied by workmen following after.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, withthe side rails, B B of the series of rollers D, provided with the flanges b, having an inner convex bearing-surface, and the bearing-bracket a, provided with the hook projection a and having the journal-recess out out at an oblique angle relative to its axis, substantially as described.

- ALBERT MIGHELSON,

Witnesses:

L. M. FREEMAN, L. B. COUPLAND. 

